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Ashmolean director to be made Freeman of Oxford

The director of one of the city’s historic museums will be honoured with the Freedom of the City of Oxford.

Prof Christopher Brown will be bestowed with the award to mark his 16-year stint at the Ashmolean Museum in Beaumont Street.

The Lord Mayor of Oxford, Mohammed Abbasi, will present Prof Brown with his ceremonial scroll at the Town Hall next month to mark his retirement late this year. Prof Brown said: “I am absolutely thrilled to be honoured in this way by the City of Oxford.

“My intention from the very beginning was to open up the museum to a much broader public, particularly to the people of Oxford and the county of Oxfordshire. The results of our redevelopment have exceeded all my expectations.

“It is a huge honour to be awarded the Freedom of the City on behalf of the museum and colleagues who have worked on the transformation of the Ashmolean.”

Prof Brown will step down on Tuesday, September 30.

The Freedom of the City of Oxford is awarded to people of distinction or people who have provided important services within the city.